Improvement in clutches



-T. LEMONT. Clutch.

Patented Sept. 30,1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

GRANVILLE T. LEMONT, OF BATH, MAINE.

-l M PROVEMENT IN CLUTCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,207, datedSeptember 30, 1879; application filed August 20, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRANVILLE T. LEMONT, of Bath, Sagadahoc county,Maine, have invented an Improvement in Clutches, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to clutches for connecting and readilydisconnecting the two parts-of any drum or cylinder used for the purposeof drawing upon a rope or chain wound around a part of the said drum.It-is specially applicable to the windlasses of ships, but is notnecessarily confined to that specific use. \Vhere the winding-drum ismade in two parts, that part upon which the rope or chain is wound beingloose upon the shaft and connected to that part which is fixed upon theshaft by clutches, it is ordinarily necessary that the clutches shouldbe capable of ready connection and disconnection; and this .is speciallytrue of the windlasses of ships when constructed in the mannerindicated. It is also necessary that the clutches should be capable ofready disconnection or connection, whatever point of the drum orWindlass happens to be turned toward the operator.

My improvement is represented in the drawings hereunto attached, inwhich Figure 1 shows a transverse section through the axis of such adrum or Windlass, the figure representing the loose part which, inawindlass, is

technically called a wild-cat, and also a part of the drum or Windlasswhich carries the clutches. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the drum orWindlass, and Fig. 3 shows a section upon line 00 00 in Fig. 2.

In these drawings the loose part or wild-cat is represented at A. It iscapable when disconnected from the clutch of free rotary movementupoirthe shaft B. The part 0 of the drum or windlass which carries theclutches is fixed upon the shaft B, being firmly secured thereto. Aroundthis part0 is placed a ring,

'D,n'1ade of any suitable metal, and capable of movement around theperiphery of the part 0. It may be moved by levers placed in holes a ain the outer edge, or by ordinary handles. This ring D carries the pawlsb, connected to it as represented more clearly in Fig. 3.

I have represented only one of these pawls in the drawings; butobviously as many of them may be placed on the ring as may be required.This pawl moves in and out in slots 0, cut transversely in the ring I),in which it is held and moved by diagonal splines e c, which fit intonotches cut in the sides of the key or clutch. This movement in onedirection will, it is plain, force the clutch or bolt into thetransverse holes in the loose part or wild-cat, and hold it firmlyconnected to that part which is fixed upon the shaft, so that the motionof the fixed part may be imparted to the loose, or by movement in theother direction the loose part or wild-cat may be released and allowedto run freely upon the shaft.

The ring D is held in place upon the fixed part of the drum, asrepresented in Fig. 1, by a rib, h, working in a corresponding groove. Aflange, t, upon the loose part of the drum overlaps the fixed partandabuts against the ring D, leaving, however, sufficient space between itsinternal surface and the exterior of the part which it overlaps for themovement of the clutch or bolt.

As many holes may be made in the periphery of the ring D as conveniencemay require. This construction is more complete than the ordinary loosepawl heretofore used, and it has the further advantage of operating witha positive motion.

I am aware that rings have been heretofore madeadapted to drop the boltsor pawls vertically in connection with a revolving drum, and I do notclaim, broadly, such a construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1sv 1. In combination with the loose drum A, shaft B,and fixed parts 0, the ring D, work in g in a vertical plane, and havingsplines e e, acting in connection with the notched bolt b, and forcingthe same-in either direction, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the loose part pro vided with an overhangingflange, the fixed part 0, the ring D, and the laterally-moving bolt b,as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

- G. T. LEMONT. Witnesses:

JAMES PURINGTON, F. E. ORoMwELL.

